Learn the Rules

Rule: Swap initial consonants between two syllables/words.

The classic Thai party trick. Often produces unintentionally rude combinations — that's part of the fun.

Rule: Move initial consonant cluster to end + add 'ay'. Vowel-start words get 'way'.

Popularised in American children's culture in the early 20th century.

Rule: Reverse the syllable order of a word.

Verlan is so embedded in French culture that some Verlan words (like 'meuf' for 'femme') have entered mainstream dictionaries.

Rule: After each syllable, insert 'p' + the last vowel of that syllable.

Used by children as a secret language. Regional variants use different insertion consonants (sometimes 'f' or 'ch').

Rule: After every vowel, insert 'b' followed by that same vowel.

Named after butterflies (farfalle) because words become long and fluttery.

Rule: Reverse the kana character order of the word.

Some reversed words coincidentally form other real words, which is considered especially clever.

Rule: Insert '브' (beu) after every syllable block.

Used by Korean children as a spoken secret code, especially in schools.

Rule: Reverse the character order to create a mirror phrase.

Many reversed Chinese phrases are grammatically valid but mean something different — creating double meanings.

Rule: Swap initial consonants between two words, identical to the Thai system.

Given the close linguistic relationship, Lao คำผวน is nearly identical to the Thai version.

Rule: Reverse the character/syllable order of a word or phrase.

Cantonese wordplay also includes tone-based puns that cannot be replicated in written form.

Rule: Reverse the aksara (syllable unit) order of a word.

Ulta pulta literally means 'upside down topsy-turvy' — the name itself describes the feeling of speaking in reverse.